# How a Citizen Can Participate in Governing the Country

> Participation extends beyond elections: citizens may submit appeals, join peaceful assemblies and public councils, apply to the Constitutional Court, and support petitions under the Administrative Procedural Code. You can stand for election to a maslikhat from age 20 and to the Kurultai from age 25.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/local-citizen-participation?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: Local Government

## Elections are not the only tool

Voting once every five years is just the beginning. The Constitution provides a range of ways to influence decisions.

## Forms of participation

**Elections and referendum:**
- Voting in elections to the Kurultai, maslikhats, and for akims
- Voting in a referendum
- Standing for election: **from age 20** to a maslikhat, **from age 25** to the Kurultai

**Appeals:**
- To a **state body** – it is obliged to respond within the prescribed period. Failure to respond is a violation of the law
- To the **Constitutional Court** – if a law violates your constitutional rights (free of charge, via eGov)
- To the **Ombudsman** – if a state body has violated your rights

**Public oversight:**
- **Public councils** attached to state bodies – participation in discussing decisions
- **Peaceful assemblies** – a constitutional right (notification procedure)
- **Trade unions and NGOs** – collective protection of interests

**New and existing mechanisms:**
- **Khalyk Kenesi (People's Council)** – 126 members, representatives of public groups with the right of legislative initiative
- **Petitions** – a collective-appeal process under Chapter 12-1 of the Administrative Procedural Code, not direct citizen introduction of a bill
- **Digital tools** – eGov as the platform for engaging with the state

## What works right now

- Your district maslikhat approves the budget – for roads, schools, hospitals
- The akim of your village is elected by you (since 2021)
- The Constitutional Court annuls unconstitutional laws on a citizen's application (since 2023)
- Public councils discuss decisions before they are adopted

All of this depends on participation. The tools work when people use them.

## Key Facts

- Elections, referendum, appeals, public councils, peaceful assemblies – all are forms of participation
- Standing for election: from age 20 to a maslikhat, from age 25 to the Kurultai
- The Constitution introduces Khalyk Kenesi; the Administrative Procedural Code governs petitions
- An application to the Constitutional Court is free; a state body must respond within the prescribed period

## Checked sources

- [Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)
- [Administrative Procedural Code of Kazakhstan, Chapter 12-1 on petitions](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2000000350#z1470) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)

## Qaz.Vision context

> На основе концепции Главы государства «Слышащее государство» был выстроен механизм эффективной обратной связи с обществом, предложения граждан по возможности были учтены.

- Ерлан Карин, Государственный советник
- [Source document](https://qaz.vision/dokument/119)
- Evidence: `direct_quote; atom:2463; unreviewed`

> Президент отметил, что Халық Кеңесі – это уникальная диалоговая площадка, которая будет выполнять важную роль в построении Справедливого Казахстана.

- Касым-Жомарт Токаев, Президент
- [Source document](https://qaz.vision/dokument/3131)
- Evidence: `attributed_speech; atom:9346; unreviewed`

> После вступления этих поправок в силу влияние маслихатов возрастет. Народные избранники на местах будут напрямую влиять на распределение бюджета, что усилит контроль со стороны местной представительной власти за расходованием средств в областях и городах.

- Касым-Жомарт Токаев, Президент
- [Source document](https://qaz.vision/dokument/87)
- Evidence: `direct_quote; atom:938; unreviewed`

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/local-citizen-participation?lang=en
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